Picture quality on 50" Plasma??

[msas]

Greetings!

I'm currently looking into buying an AppleTv to use with my Panasonic 50" Plasma. My only apprehension would be the video quality from the ATV on a TV this size. Is anyone using ATV with large flat panels? I know this depends on the actual source of the video/movie to begin with, but for some examples: a standard downloaded movie from iTunes store, a downloaded HD movie when available from iTunes, and a ripped dvd from a software package (handbrake, AnyDVD). Thanks for any feedback!!

 

[bradc2755]

I have had an AppleTV since almost day one and I've always used it with my Vizio 50" Plasma. It looks awesome. I've also converted a lot of HD material using VisualHub and it looks amazing so have no fear.

 

[JW008]

I have had an AppleTV since almost day one and I've always used it with my Vizio 50" Plasma. It looks awesome. I've also converted a lot of HD material using VisualHub and it looks amazing so have no fear.

What about regular DVDs (specifically, those that used the Apple TV preset on Handbrake). How do those look?

 

[bradc2755]

I can't speak for handbrake since I've never used it but I've ripped DVDs to AppleTV using other methods and they always look really good as well.

 

[msas]

I have had an AppleTV since almost day one and I've always used it with my Vizio 50" Plasma. It looks awesome. I've also converted a lot of HD material using VisualHub and it looks amazing so have no fear.

So your saying that even a standard downloaded movie from iTunes store looks great? Partly why i am skeptical is that even in a retail Apple Store where the ATV's are on display, the video to me looks terrible on the Sony tv's they use, usually a 32" i think.

 

[tothelimit]

What about regular DVDs (specifically, those that used the Apple TV preset on Handbrake). How do those look?

DVDs ripped to iTunes using the tv preset on Handbrake look basically identical to DVD quality on an HDTV - even equal to the picture from an HDMI upconversion DVD player (if you have your tv connected with HDMI). Now, DVD quality isnt THE BEST, but if you can stand it from a DVD player you will be more than happy with the quality from the tv. Lately I have been acquiring HDDVD and BluRay rips and converting them using VisualHub apple:tv/"Go Nuts" setting) - the picture quality thru the tv is FANTASTIC!

 

[aristobrat]

in a retail Apple Store where the ATV's are on display, the video to me looks terrible on the Sony tv's they use, usually a 32" i think.

A lot of those videos appear to be from before the iTunes Store video quality was bumped up.

Hopefully with the Take 2 software, Apple will refresh their demo AppleTVs in store to more properly show off what they can do (video quality wise).

 

[tothelimit]

So your saying that even a standard downloaded movie from iTunes store looks great? Partly why i am skeptical is that even in a retail Apple Store where the ATV's are on display, the video to me looks terrible on the Sony tv's they use, usually a 32" i think.

I would say a standard downloaded movie from the iTMS looks good - not great - but good. I mean, a standard movie from iTMS is not not HD - so if thats what you're used to/expecting, you will be a little disappointed. But the picture isnt terrible by any means. (I'm running my ATV through a 61" Panasonic)

 

[msas]

DVDs ripped to iTunes using the tv preset on Handbrake look basically identical to DVD quality on an HDTV - even equal to the picture from an HDMI upconversion DVD player (if you have your tv connected with HDMI). Now, DVD quality isnt THE BEST, but if you can stand it from a DVD player you will be more than happy with the quality from the tv. Lately I have been acquiring HDDVD and BluRay rips and converting them using VisualHub apple:tv/"Go Nuts" setting) - the picture quality thru the tv is FANTASTIC!

Have you tried Handbrake with HD DVD or BlueRay yet? I don't have a mac so i can't use VisualHub.

 

[tothelimit]

Have you tried Handbrake with HD DVD or BlueRay yet? I don't have a mac so i can't use VisualHub.

no i haven't - i've think i've heard AVS Video Tools is sort of a Windows equivalent of Visual Hub. Its shareware - so it stamps some text onto the output until you pay for it. Give it a try, maybe you'll find its worth the $30-40 :cough cough:: or maybe you can find ways around that ::cough cough: